Carl Nicks Injury: Buccaneers Guard could miss a month with infected blister

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have to miss Carl Nicks for a month with an infected blister on his foot, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The guard was held out of the Bucs' second preseason game with the foot injury.

@AdamSchefter said in ESPN's NFL Insiders G Carl Nicks 'could miss about a month, based on what I’m being told," with the foot infection.

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) August 21, 2013

The infection is on the same foot that was affected by a plantar plate injury, and which will bother him for the rest of his life. Nicks missed most of last season with that foot injury after trying to play through it for seven games. While he practiced on the foot and was scheduled to return this week, the guard saw an infected blister derail that plan.

If Nicks does miss some regular season action we're likely to see Ted Larsen step in in his place at left guard, although the Bucs have been trying to find other players to use at guard as well. Gabe Carimi might be an intriguing option, although the Bucs could also slide Jeremy Zuttah over to left guard and play Larsen at his more natural center position.

The Buccaneers gave Nicks a five-year, $47.5 million deal with $31 million in guaranteed money. While the Bucs can't complain about his play for the 7 games he managed on an injured foot last year, they must be disappointed with the return they've gotten so far. And now, an infected blister could cause him to miss the first two or three games of the 2013 season.

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